Preparing Your Body + Mind for Winter: Finals, Seasonal Depression and Family
By: Ellice Ellis ‘20
Winter is tough. Get ready and stay ready.
Yes, Winter is the season to spend time with family over the holidays, drink hot chocolate, and take cute pictures in your coziest gear, but the colder months can bring about challenges for many of us. Seasonal depression, finals-induced stress, family drama, and terrible skin are just a few of the perils that may affect us, college students.
Seasonal Affective Disorder
For me personally, I deal with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) during colder months. SAD is a mood disorder characterized by depression that occurs at the same time every year. College students experiencing SAD can have poor academic performance, feel stressed, avoid socialization with your friends, want to stay in bed, skip class due to low motivation or fatigue, feel irritable for no apparent reason or have an increased desire to eat comfort foods,
Regardless of your situation, it’s good to take some proactive measures to reduce your symptoms in the winter months and help you feel better amid finals and all the other stress that may be circulating in your life.
My first suggestion is to seek out social support. During the winter months, there’s also a strong inclination to isolate yourself and stay in bed. That can be dangerous. If you’re struggling with your assignments, your mental health, or just feeling generally tired, let your friends and the people around you know.
As a senior, I have only 2 days of class on campus, so I must force myself to make plans and stay engaged; otherwise, I’ll be bedridden on my days off. Schedule in time to get out of the house and disrupt your routine. Go to a movie, an event on campus or consider inviting friends over to study together or have a Friendsgiving meal. The company of others can shake us out of a rut and inspire productivity. Getting more exercise and taking advantage of sunny days are two other simple ways to fight off the winter blues. Try yoga at USC’s Fisher Museum of Art every Thursday at 10 am!
Skincare
Whether you know it or not, winter is a great time to switch up your skincare routine and stay hydrated. Colder temperatures, harsh winds, and our use of heating devices in the winter can cause more dehydrated skin prone to redness and irritation. Taking time to care for my skin gives also gives me energy and is an act of self-care that combats my personal seasonal depression.
I recommend paying particular attention to moisturizing during the winter season, always carrying a chapstick or lip balm, and switching up your showering routine. A 5- to 10-minute lukewarm shower (or bath), will reduce redness and irritation that an enticing hot shower can bring. And in combination with moisturizing products for your body, face, and lips, you’ll stay hydrated in the front of the changing weather. Trader Joes in the Village has a Lip Balm Virtuoso and Enrich Moisturizing Face Lotion.
Family
For those going home for Thanksgiving and spending time with family over winter break, there are potential added stresses that family can bring. For myself, it’s the constant questions on what I’m doing after gradation that grinds my gears. I also find myself in the middle of arguments or disagreements with my mom and my siblings that leave me feeling isolated and frustrated. Ahead of the holidays, I typically plan out ways to cope with differences and drama as well as a journal about how I’ve grown and changed over the past year.
On your flight, train, or drive home, list your coping strategies for dealing with anger. Do you excuse yourself? Take a walk? Mediate for a bit? Repeat positive mantra privately? Or even call a friend from school? When I find myself heated or misunderstood among family, I usually try to take a walk or journal about what is provoking me. Listing these strategies ahead of time can help you be better prepared for quality family time that could go sour.
It’s also essential to put your life in perspective. As college students, we’re continually growing, changing, and introduced to new ideas. Our families may not understand out newfound independence, experiences or views on the world. Self-reflection is a great way to anticipate and combat family disagreements. If we know what our families may challenge or not understand, we can be better prepared in explaining who we’ve grown into. I can recall spending time with a friend at her family’s Thanksgiving and how we prepared to tell her family she was now vegan. Although this may seem small, judgmental comments on one’s life by their loved ones hurt and should be addressed. For my friend and me, it was helpful that we had prepared a list of potential questions and responses that might come from her family.
Despite being prepared, set boundaries with your family. Don’t allow instances of bigotry or disrespect from them. At the end of the day, it’s your life to live and make mistakes with.
Finals
Last but not least, finals. Yes, you’ve (hopefully) been attending class all semester, but the thought of writing essays, taking tests, and completing projects to finish it off can be daunting. I often find myself feeling overwhelmed by the tasks I must complete to finish the semester off right. And with Winter Break coming, I find myself more focused on seeing family and relaxing than schoolwork.
Build out a “finals schedule” that will help you paint a clear picture of what’s to come. Know your assignment due dates and exam times and locations. Additionally, be realistic about what you can do at this point in the semester. If you’re in a time crunch, prioritize assignments or exams and events that have a more significant impact on your goals or academic career.
Remember to schedule breaks and focus on sleep too. For myself, I aim to get 8 hours of sleep no matter what. Nothing will get done if you’re not well-rested and taking care of your body. In addition to my nightly dream-session, for every 60 minutes of work, I take a 15-minute break. My breaks include going on a short walk, having a jam session, taking a quick nap, or having a mini Youtube binge-watching session. If I feel like I’ll have the urge to online shop or watch Netflix, I’ll make time to watch a show or set a time, so I don’t spend hours searching for a New Years outfit. Short, planned breaks will help you recharge and prevent burnout.
Take care of YOU!
What I hoped you gained from this post is that taking care of YOU is essential. Getting a particular grade can feel like the end of the world. Not meeting your family’s expectations, coupled with all the pressure to succeed is daunting. From November to March, it’s natural to forget that you and your health and well-being matter more than anything. Show yourself the same kindness and love in the coming months, and no doubt you’ll come out on top.
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